Angat Dam water level rising

MANILA, Philippines—Rain continues to flood Angat Dam in Bulacan to a level that could address the current water shortage in Metro Manila.

In the next two weeks, the Angat Dam reservoir’s water level could reach the level of 180 meters above sea-level that is deemed sufficient to supply Metro Manila and surrounding areas with potable water and hydroelectricity, and provide irrigation to Central Luzon's farms, said Edgar de la Cruz, hydrometereologist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

“The rains have helped and the rivers are again able to contribute to Angat Dam. There's a continuous supply of water to Angat Dam,” De la Cruz told the Inquirer by phone on Thursday.

Angat Dam, the main source of potable water for Metro Manila, reached its lowest level on July 18 at 157.56 meters above sea level.

De la Cruz said the water level rose the next day to 157.63 meters and reached 157.78 meters on July 20.

The water level rose by almost a meter on July 24.

As of 6 a.m. Thursday, Angat Dam's water level was at 162.77 meters. Its spilling level is 212.00 meters.

“The rise in the water level continues and I think it will reach the minimum requirement of 180 meters in two weeks' time to satisfy the minimum rule curve,” De la Cruz said.

An Intertropical Convergence Zone affecting Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao has brought scattered rains over much of the country.